Misdiagnosis...

After two additional follow ups, 10 days of horrible nausea as I was forced to take drugs prescribed to treat an STD that I didn't have, I was told that I did not, in fact, have a hydrosalpinx. What I had was abnormally concentrated vasculature in my abdomen, and the fluid filled sac was in fact just a vein. The meds were stopped, although the pain continued, as did the abnormal bleeding and cramping. The doctors basically told me that this condition was something that just happened to women in their late 20s sometimes, and that it would go away in due time.

Situations at home weren't getting any better. Tensions were growing as my hours got longer - Charming was resenting my job since he was still only working part-time and from home, and he was frustrated that I was sick all the time.

Adding to the stress were the recently-announced plans that his parents had. They and Casey would be coming for three weeks, overlapping the major product launch that I'd been working so hard on, which meant that I would be juggling a difficult balance of work, family time, and trying to create some sort of relationship with the little girl who I feared would be the end to what had once been a perfect relationship. I also knew that - with tensions being what they were and with the work demands that I knew would be coming - that these three weeks were going to be very long and very trying.